The Taleban Information Minister, Mullah Amir Khan Mutaqi, says they were released in Kabul by order of the head of the Taleban, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

Mullah Mutaqi said the releases were to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan which begins in around two weeks.

He said the releases were supervised by the Taleban Defence Minister, Mullah Ubaidullah, and that before the prisoners were freed they "were given religious instructions" by Taleban officials.

The main opposition leader: Ahmed Shah Massoud

More than a month ago, the two sides in Afghanistan agreed to release 1,000 prisoners each, but so far only a small number have been freed because terms for the releases have still not been agreed.

Last month when the Taleban released 100 opposition prisoners, a spokesman for Mr Massoud said the freed men were only civilians whom the Taleban had captured from cities and not frontlines.

The Taleban, who have ousted most of the opposition forces, now control around 80% of Afghanistan, according to independent estimates.